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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By B. P. Jones
Format:DVD
At the moment, we're having to watch the DVD on our laptop: still no PAL version, though it's continually promised... like yesterday!
Ed Harris is absolutely magnificent as LvB. The balance between the inner man (who continually "talks to God") and the everyday man (who can't cope with anything in the mundane, day-to-day world) is as near perfect as anyone is going to get. I've been a devotee of LvB for most of my 62 years; watching this film is like seeing a video of an old friend: the interpretation really IS that good.
I know it's factually inaccurate... but that doesn't seem to matter much. The FEEL of the thing is right. This is how the man was: genius, chamber pots, and all. And the part of the film that deals with the 9th's first performance (with a splendid rendering of the finale!) was enough to reduce me (literally) to tears. If you love LvB's music, watch this film: I promise you you won't be disappointed.
Ed Harris is absolutely magnificent as LvB. The balance between the inner man (who continually "talks to God") and the everyday man (who can't cope with anything in the mundane, day-to-day world) is as near perfect as anyone is going to get. I've been a devotee of LvB for most of my 62 years; watching this film is like seeing a video of an old friend: the interpretation really IS that good.
I know it's factually inaccurate... but that doesn't seem to matter much. The FEEL of the thing is right. This is how the man was: genius, chamber pots, and all. And the part of the film that deals with the 9th's first performance (with a splendid rendering of the finale!) was enough to reduce me (literally) to tears. If you love LvB's music, watch this film: I promise you you won't be disappointed.
30 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By Tilly Valle
Format:DVD
I was intrigued by the title of this film. Copying Beethoven? Copying him how? I'm sure many have tried to copy his work, imitate his genius but as he himself said, "There can and will be thousands of princes, but there is only one Beethoven!" However it soon becomes clear in the film that 'copying' refers to a copyist, a scribe who copies out his musical scores for use of the maembers of the orchestra. Well every composer of the time used those. The copyist here though is a young woman, Anna who wishes to become a composer herself. Very unusual, and knowing Beethoven's character it is extremely unlikely he would have consented to work with a female copyist! Not only that, she presumes to 'correct' the great composer's work!!
You really have to suspend belief in order to make it through the whole of this fantasy LOOSELY based on the last year of Beethoven's life when he composed and premiered the glorious 9th Symphony. There are some scenes which are frankly cringe-making, such as the one wher he supposedly makes fun of a piece of music that Anna has written by pretending to break wind in time to it. Beethoven had a deep respect for women and would never have done such a thing. The other awful moment is when he asks Anna which of his Piano Sonatas is her favourite and when she hesitates announces, "Oh I know, the moonlight!" and bares his behind to her. Just terrible! For one thing Beethoven did not give Piano Sonata no 14 that title, it acquired that after his death, he himself called it 'Sonata in the manner of a Fantasia' and although he was certainly no saint and known to be rude and sometimes outrageously so, never would he have demeaned himself and insulted a female so.
So is there anything to redeem this film? Yes.... Read more ›
You really have to suspend belief in order to make it through the whole of this fantasy LOOSELY based on the last year of Beethoven's life when he composed and premiered the glorious 9th Symphony. There are some scenes which are frankly cringe-making, such as the one wher he supposedly makes fun of a piece of music that Anna has written by pretending to break wind in time to it. Beethoven had a deep respect for women and would never have done such a thing. The other awful moment is when he asks Anna which of his Piano Sonatas is her favourite and when she hesitates announces, "Oh I know, the moonlight!" and bares his behind to her. Just terrible! For one thing Beethoven did not give Piano Sonata no 14 that title, it acquired that after his death, he himself called it 'Sonata in the manner of a Fantasia' and although he was certainly no saint and known to be rude and sometimes outrageously so, never would he have demeaned himself and insulted a female so.
So is there anything to redeem this film? Yes.... Read more ›
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Adrian Drew
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Blu-ray
Beautifully shot, magnificently scored, well acted total load of mediocre rubbish! The deadfully clunky script full of anachronisms and just plain lies does nothing for for the historical role of women (no a woman did not improve his score for him and ensured the success of the choral symphony!!!) nor the truth about Beethoven's life. I struggled through 30 increasingy irritating minutes of this "europudding" before discarding the disk - never to be viewed again. That said the technical quality of the blu ray is astonishing. I true case of never mind the film's quality celebrate the transfer!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By RR Waller
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an unlikely story with some highly suspect and quite impossible but, having written that, it is also enjoyable and captures the flavour of the time.
The director, Agnieszka Holland, and the production team, created a real feeling of the period, the driven passion for music, the hectic struggle to have music copied in time for performances or publishers, Beethoven's tempestuous relationship with his nephew and the nature of the premiers, e.g. the Ninth with that poignant and moving scene at the end, a scene well documented in scholarly texts.
Bill Stewart, Matyelok Gibbs, Gabor Bohus, and a young Diane Kruger, all perform admirably but, for me, "the oscar" has to go to Ed Harris, whose wild hair, fierce eyes and seismic temper capture Beethoven well. (Although I cannot recall the reference or source, I seem to remember that Ed Harris had been trying to make this film for some time. Like his portrayal of the mercurial Jackson Pollock - Jack the Dripper -, he fills Beethoven's shoes with enthusiasm.)
I will not go into the unlikely scenes (of which there are quite a few) as that would give too much away. However, it is a "marmite film", so be aware. Although I am well-versed in his music and details of Beethoven's life, I was able to ignore the inaccuracies, the somewhat ridiculous and the completely impossible and enjoy it. I recommend it as a film for its capture of the flavour of the time, the performance of Ed Harris and the events which could have happened - just don't expect John Suchet type information on the screen. Sit back and enjoy the music too.
The director, Agnieszka Holland, and the production team, created a real feeling of the period, the driven passion for music, the hectic struggle to have music copied in time for performances or publishers, Beethoven's tempestuous relationship with his nephew and the nature of the premiers, e.g. the Ninth with that poignant and moving scene at the end, a scene well documented in scholarly texts.
Bill Stewart, Matyelok Gibbs, Gabor Bohus, and a young Diane Kruger, all perform admirably but, for me, "the oscar" has to go to Ed Harris, whose wild hair, fierce eyes and seismic temper capture Beethoven well. (Although I cannot recall the reference or source, I seem to remember that Ed Harris had been trying to make this film for some time. Like his portrayal of the mercurial Jackson Pollock - Jack the Dripper -, he fills Beethoven's shoes with enthusiasm.)
I will not go into the unlikely scenes (of which there are quite a few) as that would give too much away. However, it is a "marmite film", so be aware. Although I am well-versed in his music and details of Beethoven's life, I was able to ignore the inaccuracies, the somewhat ridiculous and the completely impossible and enjoy it. I recommend it as a film for its capture of the flavour of the time, the performance of Ed Harris and the events which could have happened - just don't expect John Suchet type information on the screen. Sit back and enjoy the music too.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By RD
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
A fictitious account of the last few months/year of Beethoven's life. A few days before the first performance of his famous Ninth symphony and everything is in chaos and so enters Diane Kruger as Anna, a copyist to work beside the great man to get it all done in time. The two strike up an unlikely bond that is born of his brutality and her frankness. The rub each other up the wrong way most of the time but underneath it lies a healthy respect. It's interesting to see the back and forth in their relationship. One moment they are getting on and the next he's having a major strop and reducing her to tears. She brings out a softer, more thoughful side in him and he pushes her musically.
The music is, as you can imagine, incredible. Watching this made me hunt out my cd of classics and just lie back. Totally inspiring.
An enjoyable movie in which both Ed Harris and Diane Kruger truely shine. In fact I think she pulls it off much better than I ever thought was possible of her.. wasn't too impressed by her role in Troy.
The music is, as you can imagine, incredible. Watching this made me hunt out my cd of classics and just lie back. Totally inspiring.
An enjoyable movie in which both Ed Harris and Diane Kruger truely shine. In fact I think she pulls it off much better than I ever thought was possible of her.. wasn't too impressed by her role in Troy.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A moving tribute to the Master.
I just bought this on spec in the hope that it might be helpful and not just entertaining. I think the producer and actors did a good job in expressing the torment that the deaf... Read more
Published 25 days ago by Revd R. B. Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
A review of a film, not of beethoven!
Some films are like great paintings and I love both. They are artistic creations and don't necessarily have to depict the subjects exactly. Thank goodness. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Douglas Cameron
5.0 out of 5 stars
Music to the ears
This DVD arrived in very good time for me to enjoy over and over again I will not hesutate to use this site again when purchasing similar products
Published 3 months ago by G. J. Caines
5.0 out of 5 stars
very informative film
this was a present for my mother in law, and she is very pleased with the film. I would recommend this to a Beethoven fan.
Published 5 months ago by carol ann banaster
5.0 out of 5 stars
No words can describe!
This film has to be one of the best yet. I adore musicians of all types. This film I have watched many times on dvd and it still makes me smile. Read more
Published 6 months ago by jean
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hmmm...
Not sure what to say really...one staringly obvious point that anyone who knows the smallest thing about Beethoven is that they probably know he was deaf in the last ten years of... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Immortal Beloved
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Good and The Bad
Being Beethoven fans we were encouraged by the beautiful opening scenes, the quality of the production, sets, costumes, make-up, and of course score but as the fictitious story... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Liz S
1.0 out of 5 stars
Wasted Opportunity
Beethoven. What an amazing subject for a film and what a disappointment. Toe-curling scene with his copyist (a female?!! Read more
Published 12 months ago by Isobel Abbott
2.0 out of 5 stars
Copying Beethoven
I did like the film very much for one reason: Beethovens words! But I did not like this story with the girl. Why a girl? Read more
Published 18 months ago by Lilo Hunziker
3.0 out of 5 stars
Artistic license liberally applied
If you are a keen fan of Beethoven, musically and as a historical figure, then you might find this movie grates on you because of the quite extensive use of artistic license in... Read more
Published 18 months ago by maximus
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